Itcomes-fillingtheemptyspaceatwhichhestareswithmovinglife-engine，baggagecarandalongstringofPullmans。Thenallisdarkagainandonlythenoiseofitsslackeningwheelscomestohimthroughthenight。Ithasstoppedatthestation。Aminutelongerandithasstartedagain，andthequicklylesseningrumbleofitsdepartureisallthatremainsofthisvisionofman’sactivityandceaselessexpectancy。Whenitisquitegoneandallisquiet，asighfallsfromtheman’slipsandhemoveson，butthistime，forsomeunexplainablereason，inthedirectionofthestation。Withloweredheadhepassesalong，notinglittletillhearriveswithinsightofthedepotwheresomefreightisbeinghandled，andatrunkortwowheeleddowntheplatform。Nosightcouldbemoreordinaryorunsuggestive，butithasitsattractionforhim，forhelooksupashegoesbyandfollowsthepassageofthattruckdowntheplatformtillithasreachedthecorneranddisappeared。Thenhesighsagainandagainmoveson。
Aclusterofhouses，oneofthemopenandlighted，wasallwhichlaybetweenhimnowandthecountryroad。Hewashurryingpast，forhisstephadunconsciouslyquickenedasheturnedhisbackuponthestation，whenhewasseizedagainbythatmoodofcuriosityandsteppeduptothedoorfromwhichalightissuedandlookedin。Acommoneating-roomlaybeforehim，withrudelyspreadtablesandoneverysleepywaitertakingordersfromanewarrivalwhosatwithhisbacktothedoor。Whydidthelonelymanonthesidewalkstartashiseyefellonthelatter’scommonplacefigure，ahungrymandemandingbreakfastinacheap，countryrestaurant?Hisownphysiquewaspowerfulwhilethatoftheotherlookedslimandfrail。Butfearwasintheair，andthebroodingofatempestaffectssometemperamentsinatotallyunexpectedmanner。Asthemaninsideturnsslightlyandlooksup，themasterfigureonthesidewalkvanishes，andhisstep，ifanyonehadbeeninterestedenoughtolisten，ringswithanewnoteasitturnsintothecountryroadithasatlastreached。
Butnooneheeded。Thenewarrivalmuncheshisrollandwaitsimpatientlyforhiscoffee，whilewithout，thecloudspilesoundlesslyinthesky，oneofthemtakingtheformofahugehandwithclutchingfingersreachingdownintothehollowvoidbeneath。
ATSIX
Mr。ChallonerhadbeenhonestinhisstatementregardingthedepartureofSweetwater。Hehadnotonlypaidanddismissedouryoungdetective，buthehadseenhimtakethetrainforNewYork。